Out of Mind, Out of Sight

(January 9, 1997)

Story by: Joss Whedon

Teleplay by: Ashley Gable & Thomas A. Swyden

< TD>

Teaser

FADE IN:

EXT. SUNNYDALE HIGH SCHOOL - MORNING

Students arriving. It's another fine day on the Hellmouth.

CORDELIA (V.O.)I just love springtime...

CUT TO:

INT. SCHOOL HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS

The walls are covered with signs for the "Spring Fling," the sophomore dance to be held at the Bronze. Standing by a sign reminding, "Cast Your vote on Thursday for May Queen!" are CORDELIA, HARMONY and hunk-du-jour, MITCH FARGO.

CORDELIAMe in bright spring fashions...

MITCHSpring training...

CORDELIAMe at the end-of-school dance...

HARMONY The end of school...

CORDELIADefinitely my favorite time of

year!

INT. HALLWAY LEADING TO THE LIBRARY - CONTINUOUS

as they near the Library, walking and talking through the flow of students.

CORDELIA... I am, of course, having my

dress specially made. Off-the-rackgives me hives.

MITCH

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Let me guess. Blue, like youreyes.

CORDELIAMy eyes are hazel, Helen Keller.

HARMONYYou two will look so fine together

in the May Queen photo.

CORDELIA(immense false modesty)

Well, technically, I haven't beenelected May Queen yet.

A beat as they look at each other, then they all laugh.

Just then Buffy bursts out the Library doors, SLAMMING into Cordelia and Mitch. Herbackpack spills -- books, papers... and medieval weaponry. Several students stop torubberneck the "accident." Everyone stares at the weaponry.

CORDELIABehold the weirdness.

Buffy quickly starts stashing the arsenal back in the pack.

BUFFYYou're probably wondering what I'm

doing with this stuff.

CORDELIAWow, I'm not.

BUFFYIt's actually... show-and-tell!

For history class. Mr. Giles hasthis, like, hobby. A hobby ofcollecting stuff. Which he lentme. For show-and-tell. Did Imention it's for history class?

Students in the crowd stare at her, silent.

HARMONYShe is always hanging with the creepy librarian in that creepy

library.

MITCHEw, libraries. All those books.

What's up with that?

With a few chuckles, the crowd disperses.

CORDELIA(to Mitch as they leave)

Did I ever tell you about whenBuffy attacked me? With a spearwhen I came out of the ladies' at

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the Bronze. I still re-live thetrauma every time I see a pencil.

I can only use felt-tip now...

Still on her knees, Buffy watches them go, hurt.

TEACHER'S VOICE (V.O.)If you prick us, do we not bleed?

CUT TO:

INT. ENGLISH CLASSROOM - MINUTES LATER

The teacher is MS. MILLER. She gamely tries to unlock the mysteries of Shakespeare for XANDER, WILLOW, Harmony, Cordelia and others. She reads with great enthusiasm -

MS. MILLER"If you tickle us, do we not laugh?If you poison us, do we not die?And if you wrong us, shall we not

revenge?"(beat)

OK, so talk to me, people. Howdoes what Shylock says here, about

being a Jew, relate to ourdiscussion about the anger of

the outcast at society?

Cordelia's hand shoots up like a rocket. Willow also raises her hand. But Cordelia waves hers insistently and Ms. Miller points at her. Willow lowers her hand, disappointed.

MS. MILLERCordelia, what's Shylock saying?

CORDELIAHow about, "color me totally

self-involved".

MS. MILLERCare to elaborate?

CORDELIAWith Shylock it's whine, whine,whine, like the whole world is

about him! He acts like it'sjustice, him getting a pound of Antonio's flesh. It's not justice,

it's yicky.

MS. MILLERBut has Shylock suffered? What's

his place in Venice Society?

WILLOWWell, everyone looks down on him --

CORDELIA

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That's such a twinkie defense!Shylock should get over himself.

People who think their problems areso huge craze me. Like the time Isort of ran over this girl on her

bike, and it was the mosttraumatizing even of my life,and she's trying to make it alabout her leg! Like my pain

meant nothing!...

MS. MILLERCordelia's raised an interesting

point here --(the BELL RINGS)

Which we will pursue next time.

The students start out. Cordelia approaches Ms. Miller.

CORDELIAMs. Miller?

MS. MILLERSome good observations today,

Cordelia. Always exciting to knowsomeone's actually done the

reading.

Willow, the last out, scowls a bit at this. SHE did the reading...

CORDELIAI wanted to talk to you about myfinal paper. I'm real unfocused.I have all these points, and I'm pretty sure they all contradict

each other.

MS. MILLERI have your outline here

somewhere... Why don't you stop inafter school tomorrow, we can go

over it.

CORDELIAThat's great, thanks.

ANGLE: THROUGH THE CLASSROOM WINDOW

We are in the hall, in someone's POV. As Cordelia heads for the door, Ms. Miller says:

MS. MILLERI'll see you then.

And the POV suddenly whips around, looking down the hall. We see Willow just exciting, with Xander. The POV moves back suddenly as Cordelia comes out the door. Not noticing whoever it is, she starts down the hall herself, away from camera.

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CUT TO:

INT. BOYS' LOCKER ROOM - MINUTES LATER

Baseball gear lies scattered about as Mitch pulls on his pants. Two BUDS pass by ontheir way out.

BUD #1You going to the Bronze?

MITCHLater. I'm picking out my tuxfirst. Got to look sharp for the

big 'dig.

BUD #1That's right. Gotta look good to

be on Cordelia's arm.

MITCHIt's not her arm I'm looking to be

on.

ANGLE: THE SPOOKY POV - AMONG THE LOCKERS

Somewhere near the back, watching as the two Buds wave goodbye. There's something rather ballsy about the POV -- whoever it is doesn't seem too concerned with concealment. The Buds pass right by without taking notice as they exit.

ANGLE: MITCH AT HIS LOCKER

He pulls on his shirt.

SPOOKEY POV

Stalks through the lockers, toward Mitch...

BACK TO MITCH

He hears a GIGGLE. It's eerie.

MITCHWho's there?

No response. No movement. Nothing. Mitch reaches for his jacket when he hears the GIGGLE again -- low, maniacal.

MITCHOkay, fun time's over. Come out!

Still nothing there. But that doesn't console Mitch. Slowly he reaches for a baseball bat nearby...

Suddenly the baseball bat rises into the air on its own and WHACKS Mitch!

Mitch stumbles against the lockers. He looks up to see:

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ANGLE: MITCH'S POV

The bat is floating in midair. Pulls back to swing --

He ducks, and the bat SLAMS into metal. Mitch scrambles away, dazed from the hit,and the bat tags him again, sending him to the ground.

The last thing we see is the end of the bat raise up and slam down out of the frame.

END OF TEASER

Act One

INT. HALLWAY WITH LOCKERS - LATE MORNING

Buffy is by herself, putting her books away as Cordelia saunters down the hall handing out little chocolates.

CORDELIA(handing a chocolate to a

student)Remember who to vote for for May

Queen. As in, me.

She reaches Harmony, shows her a chocolate.

CORDELIAIsn’t this the BOMB? I’m SUCH the

campaign strategist.

HARMONY(reads on the chocolate)

“C”. For Cordelia?

CORDELIANo, “C” for Wilma. Of course it’s

for Cordelia, little brain. Thisway, people will associate me,

Cordelia, with something sweet!

As she talks she hands out a couple others, reaches Buffy. Starts to hand her one and then thinks better of it.

CORDELIAI don’t think I need the loony

fringe vote.

BUFFY(as they walk off)

I don’t even like chocolate.(to herself)

Well, that was the lamest comebackof our times...

Xander and Willow approach, together.

XANDER

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Hey! What’s Cordelia up to?

BUFFYBribery. She’s desperate to be the

May Queen.

XANDERCordelia, man... she does love

titles.

WILLOW(cracking up)

Oh, God, remember in sixth grade...the field trip? When Cordelia --

XANDER(also laughing)

-- right, right, the guy with theantlers on his belt --

They are totally into this. Buffy gamely tries to keep up.

WILLOW(as the guy)

“Be my deputy!”

XANDERAnd she had the ... with the hat...

WILLOWThe hat!

XANDEROh Man...

BUFFYOkay, it’s fun that we’re speaking

in tongues...

WILLOWI’m sorry...

XANDERIt was, we had this... you had to

be there.

WILLOWIt’s not even funny.

XANDERReally.

WILLOWCordelia just has a history of

trying too hard.

XANDERWhat kind of moron would be May

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Queen anyway?

BUFFYI was.

XANDERYou what?

BUFFYAt my old school.

XANDERSo, the good kind of moron would do

that. The non-moron, I mean. I’llbe in a quiet place now.

BUFFYI mean, we didn’t call it May

Queen, but we had the dance, andthe coronation, all that stuff. It

was nice.

XANDERWell, you don’t need that stuff

now. You’ve got us.

Willow suddenly bursts into hysteric laughter again.

WILLOW“Be my deputy!”

Xander joins Willow in laughing. Buffy looks off, lost in thought. Sees:

ANGLE: BUD #1

Bursts into hall.

BUD #1Guys! Come on! Somebody wailed on

Mitch! I think he’s --

CUT TO:

INT. HALLWAY OUTSIDE LOCKER ROOM - MOMENTS LATER

PRINCIPAL SNYDER addresses the looming crowd of students.

MR. SNYDER-- dead? Of course not, dead!

What are you, ghouls? There are nodead students here! This week. Nowclear back, make room, all of you!

Buffy, Willow and Xander arrive as Mitch gets wheeled out on a gurney. The paramedics stop for a moment and the kids rush over to Mitch’s side.

BUFFYMitch, what happened?

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MITCHI don’t know... I heard something,

I tried to grab a bat... and it hitme.

BUFFYWhat hit you?

MITCHThe bat. By itself. Thing wasfloating! Knocked me out...

The paramedics take him away.

BUFFY(to Xander and Willow)

I better check out the scene.

She starts for the locker room but Snyder steps in her way.

MR. SNYDERWhere do you think you’re going? BUFFY

Uh... Mitch wanted me to get... hiscomb. He likes his comb.

MR. SNYDERI don’t think Mitch needs his comb

right now. I think Mitch needsmedical attention and you need to stay away from the crime scene.

You’re always sticking your nose in --

Xander and Willow have been witnessing this exchange. They walk past Snyder, saying:

WILLOWWhat did you say? Mitch is gonna

sue the school?

MR. SNYDER(turning)

Sue? Who?

XANDER(to Willow)

Well, his dad is the most powerfullawyer in Sunnydale.

MR. SNYDERHold on! What have you two heard?

XANDERMitch’s dad. The lawyer. You’ve

never heard of him?

WILLOWOther lawyers call him the Beast.

Buffy sneaks around them and into --

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INT. THE BOYS’ LOCKER ROOM - CONTINUOUS

It’s empty. Buffy goes toward the lockers, sees the VICIOUS DENTS on the locker doors. She stops, looks down.

ANGLE: THE BAT

is on the floor. There is blood on it. Buffy hesitantly nudges it with her foot. It rolls innocently.

Nearby, four lockers in a row are open. The last is Mitch’s. Curious, Buffy crosses to it. Looks inside. There’s nothing of interest and she closes it.

There’s an “K” spray-painted on it in red. She looks at is, puzzled, then looks at the three adjacent doors. Slowly, she shuts them all.

They spell out, LOOK.

CUT TO:

INT. CAFETERIA - NOON - ON A BIG TABLE

that’s empty except for Willow, Xander, and Buffy.

WILLOW“Look?” That’s all it said?

XANDERLook at what? Look at Mitch?

BUFFYMaybe. All I know is it’s a message.

XANDERAnd?

BUFFYAnd monsters don’t usually sendmessages. It’s pretty much, “kill,

crush, destroy”. This isdifferent.

GILES walks up in the middle of this.

GILESI’d say you’re right.

BUFFYI love it when you say that. Any

theories?

GILESWell, I’m not sure this is the

place for discussing it.

Buffy looks down their table -- empty even though it’s a crowded lunchroom -- then looks around.

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BUFFYIt’s not like anyone ever sitsclose enough to overhear us.

(shaking it off)Come on. Give.

GILESIt is a bit of a puzzle. I haven’tactually ever heard of someone

being attacked by a baseball bat.

XANDERMaybe it’s a vampire bat.

(Off their looks)I’m alone on that one.

GILESWell, assuming the bat itself isnot possessed, there are a few

possibilities that bearinvestigating. Someone with

telekinesis, the power to moveobjects at will... some invisible

creature... or possibly apoltergeist.

WILLOWA ghost?

GILESYes. An angry one.

BUFFYAngry is right. It was a realscene in that locker room.

WILLOWSo, if it’s a ghost, then we’re

talking about a dead kid?

BUFFYI suppose so. Willow, why don’t you compile a list of kids who’vedied here who might have turned

into ghosts.

XANDERWe’re on a Hellmouth. It’s gonna

be a long list.

WILLOW(agreeing)

Have you seen the “In Memoriam”section in the yearbook?

GILESI’ll research all the

possibilities, ghosts included.Xander, may I count on your help

there?

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XANDERWhat, there’s homework now? How

does that happen?

BUFFYIt’s all part of the glamorousworld of vampire slaying.

XANDERWell, what are you going to be

doing?

BUFFYFinding out what I can about Mitch.

This attack wasn’t random.

XANDERWell, I think I should do that

part.

BUFFYFine. Ask around. Talk to his

friends. Talk to Cordelia.

XANDERTalk to Cordelia?

(to Giles)So, research, huh?

CUT TO:

EXT. UPPER QUAD HALL- MOMENTS LATER

Cordelia, in a daze, sips from a drinking fountain as Harmony catches up with her. The SPOOKY POV returns,

blatantly stalking them, in-your-face -- but strangely, they don’t take any notice.

HARMONYCordelia! You weren’t in fifth

period --

CORDELIAI went to the hospital.

HARMONYMitch. How is he? Will he be OK?

CORDELIAThe doctor said he’s fine, he’ll be

sent home tomorrow.(tears well up)

Oh, you should have seen him --lying there, all black and blue...

(beat)How’s he going to look in our prompictures? How will I ever be able

to show them to anyone?

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HARMONYThey can do wonderful things with

airbrushes these days...

CORDELIAYou think?

FLASH CUT TO:

EXT. SAME - FLASHBACK - SIX MONTHS BEFORE

STILL IN POV, but it’s hazily sepia-toned -- a memory.

CORDELIADid you see Mitch? He broke up

with Wendy like eight seconds agoand he’s already nosing around.

HARMONYIt’s shameless.

CORDELIAIn the spring, if he makes varsitybaseball, maybe I’ll take him on a

test-drive...

She chuckles... Then her head snaps around, noticing us for the first time -- and notpleased to be doing so.

CORDELIAWhat do you want?

CUT BACK TO:

EXT. SAME - SECONDS LATER (PRESENT DAY) - STILL IN POV

Cordelia and Harmony head down the hall to the top of the stairs.

CORDELIAI just hope somebody can prop him

up long enough to take the picture...

Suddenly, the POV charges, a mad rush right at them...

ANGLE: BUFFY

Seeing them, heading for them --

BUFFYCordelia. Can I talk to you?

ANGLE: TOP OF THE STAIRS

Cordelia and Harmony see her.

CORDELIA

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Oh, great.

HARMONYWhy is she always --

WHAM! Harmony rockets backwards and tumbles down the stairs.

Harmony lands in a moaning heap at the bottom of the stairs. Mr. Snyder, passing by, rushes over.

MR. SNYDERFor heaven’s sake!

Cordelia hurries down the stairs, as does Buffy.

MR. SNYDERClear back, everyone! Give hersome air! Air, breathe, good.

(to a student)You! School nurse. Now!

The student rushes off as Buffy pushes in next to Cordelia. Cordelia wrings her hands helplessly. An N.D. Girl stands next to them. Harmony moans again in pain.

HARMONYMy ankle -- I think it’s broken...

BUFFYWhat happened?

MR. SNYDERHey! Who’s the principal here?

(to Cordelia)What happened?

CORDELIAShe just fell! We were coming down

the stairs and she just fell! Allby herself!

HARMONYNo, I was pushed!

Cordelia kneels down beside her.

ANGLE: BUFFY

hears GIRL’S VOICE next to them, muttering --

GIRL’S VOICEShe deserved it.

She turns in surprise to the N.D. Girl next to them --

BUFFYHow can you say that?...

Only no one’s there. The N.D. Girl is now halfway down the hallway. So who said

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that?

Buffy steps back from the crowd, sensing something’s not quite right here. She looks around... and sees a hallway door closing. She hurries toward it --

CUT TO:

INT. BAND ROOM - CONTINUOUS

But it’s also empty. Puzzled, she stalks carefully about the room. She looks out the window. Nothing.

BUFFYOkay, I know someone’s here. I just want to talk to you. I won’t

hurt you.

LOW ANGLE: BUFFY (INCLUDING CEILING)

Up in the corner, one ceiling tile is slightly ajar. Buffy waits... Still nothing. She sighs. Exists.

After a moment, the ceiling panel eerily slides back into place. Someone’s hiding there.

BLACK OUT:

END OF ACT ONE

Act Two

EXT. SCHOOL - AFTERNOON

School’s out, students heading for home. PAN OVER to find TWO MEN IN BLACK standing unnoticed on the grassy knoll...

Buffy and Xander stand out front as Giles and Willow approach. Willow presents Buffy with a sheaf of papers.

WILLOWDead kids.

BUFFYYikes.

WILLOWI was gonna pull up “missing” too,

but I didn’t have enough time.

XANDERWhat’s the word on Harmony?

GILESI believe it was a compoundfracture. Not wonderful fun.

XANDER

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This is a fairly testy ghost we’ve got.

BUFFYMaybe.

XANDERYou think “Testy” is too strong a

word? ‘Cause I felt I wasunderstating --

BUFFYGiles, have you ever touched a

ghost?

GILESNo I haven’t. I’ve seen one, in

Dartmoor. A murdered countess,very beautiful. She used to floatalong the foothills, moaning themost piteous -- I’ve gone away

again, haven’t I?

WILLOWIt’s funny when he does that.

BUFFYWe were talking about touching.

GILESYes. Well, from what I’ve read,

having a ghost pass through you isa singular experience. It’s a

cold, amorphous feeling, makes yourhair stand up.

BUFFYOkay, this is my problem. I

touched the thing. It didn’t gothrough me, it bumped into me. And

it wasn’t cold.

XANDERSo that means, what -- that we’retalking about an invisible person?

BUFFYA girl. She spoke. She said Harmony

deserved what she got.

GILESA girl on campus with the power to

turn invisible.

XANDERMan, that is so cool.

WILLOW

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Cool?

XANDERI’d give anything to be able to

turn invisible.(off their looks)

Well I wouldn’t be beating peopleup. I’d use my power to protect

the girl’s locker room.

GILESIt probably is having an awfully heady

experience, having that ability.

WILLOWSo how’d she get it? Is she awitch? ‘Cause we can fight a

witch.

XANDERGreek myths talk about cloaks of

invisibility, but they’re usuallyjust for the gods.(off their looks)

Research boy comes through with theknowledge.

BUFFYThis girl’s sort of petty, for a

God.

WILLOWShe’s got a grudge. But why

Harmony?

XANDERHarmony and Mitch. And the common

denominator there --

BUFFYIs Cordelia.

WILLOWSo what now?

BUFFYFirst thing tomorrow, pull up that

missing kids list. Maybe thisgirl’s made herself invisible for

long enough for someone to noticeshe’s gone.

WILLOWGot it. I’ll see you then.

BUFFYGood.

XANDER

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See ya.

He and Willow walk off together.

XANDERWhy don’t you have dinner at ourplace? Mom’s making her famous

phone call to the Chinese place. WILLOWAgain? Xander, do you guys have

a stove?

Buffy and Giles watch them go.

GILESI’ll start looking into ways to

decloak an invisible someone. Andyou?

BUFFYI think Cordelia’s gonna be working

on the May Queen decorations. There might be some action. It’stime for me to start the hunt.

GILESAnd how exactly do you propose to

hunt someone you can’t see?

Off her entire lack of an answer, we:

CUT TO:

INT. HALLWAY - NIGHT

It’s after school, the place deserted, lights dim and shadowy. Suddenly, a door creeps open¼

It’s Buffy. She’s in full hunting mode, carrying her Slayer’s bag of goodies, just in case. Every sense alert, she takes a careful step.

BUFFYHello? Invisible person?

No response. Buffy continues, rounds the corner.

BUFFYI know you’re here. I know I can’t

see you. It’s a good trick. Careto teach it to me?

Suddenly, she HEARS laughter, GIRLS’ VOICES. She moves to a classroom doorway.

INTO. CLASSROOM - CONTINUOUS

In the cheery light, four Cordettes sit on the floor, making decorations for the springdance. Cordelia holds her May Queen dress and pirouettes with it, laughing. The

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bright light makes the sequins sparkle. It’s beautiful.

ANGLE: BUFFY LOOKING THROUGH THE DOOR

She looks at her “hunting” attire. Then she looks back at Cordelia and her friends, who are having such fun. Buffy quietly shrinks from the door.

INT. HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS

Suddenly she HEARS something else. She stops dead, listens. Can’t quite make it out -- it’s everywhere and nowhere.

It’s music. A flute. Ghostly. Playing somewhere in the bowels of the school. Buffy just listens, affected by it. It’s about the saddest, loneliest song she’s ever heard.

CUT TO:

INT. LIBRARY STACKS - SAME TIME

Giles, far back in the stacks, hears the haunting MUSIC. He takes a few steps, trying to determine the sound’s origin.

Suddenly, it stops. After a beat, Giles shrugs. He turns to resume his work when there’s a NOISE behind him.

Giles spins. There’s no one there. Slightly unnerved --

GILESWho’s there?

ANGLE: SOMEONE’S POV WATCHING GILES

as he searches among the stacks for the source of the sound.

ANGLE: GILES

as he passes one of the darkened windows behind the stacks, glances at his solitaryreflection in the glass. He turns.

ANGEL is right beside him!

Startled, Giles looks again at the traitor window and Giles’ lonely image.

GILESOf course. Vampires cast no

reflection.

He looks about him -- in case he has to make a run or a fight for it.

ANGELDon’t worry. I’m not here to eat.

GILESBuffy told me you don’t feed on

humans anymore.

ANGEL

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Not for a long while.

GILESIs that why you’re here? To see

her?

ANGEL(shakes his head)

I can’t. It’s it’s too hard for me to be around her.

GILESA vampire in love with the Slayer.

It’s rather poetic, in a maudlinsort of way. Well, what can I do

for you?

ANGELI know you’ve been researching the

Master.

GILESThe Vampire King. Yes, I’m trying to learn all I can about him. For

the day when Buffy must face him.I haven’t learned much, I’m afraid.

ANGELThings I’ve heard lately from --

Things you wouldn’t care to meet --Something’s already in motion --something big -- but I don’t knowwhat. You’ve read all the Slayer

lore there is, right?

GILESI’ve studied all the extant

volumes, of course. But the mostimportant books of Slayer prophecy

have been lost. The TiberiusManifesto, the Pergamum Codex.

ANGELThe Codex.

GILESIt was reputed to contain the most

complete prophecies about theSlayer’s role in the End Times.

But the book was lost in the 15thcentury.

ANGELNot lost. Misplaced. I can get

it.

GILESThat would be very helpful.

(holding up a book)My own volumes seem to be useless

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of late.

ANGEL(looking at the book)Legends of Vishnu?

GILESOh, there’s an invisible girl

terrorizing the school.

ANGELOh. That’s not really my area of

expertise.

GILESNor mine, I’m afraid. It’s fascinating, though. By all

accounts a wonderful power to have.

ANGELI don’t know. Looking in the mirror every day and seeing nothing there...

Giles’ gaze is drawn again to --

ANGLE: THE DARK WINDOW

and Giles’ solitary reflection as Angel continues.

ANGEL (O.S.)It’s an overrated pleasure.

Giles turns back toward Angel. But he’s gone.

FLASH CUT TO:

INT. GIRLS’ BATHROOM - FLASHBACK

NOT in POV, but still sepia-toned and dreamy. A GIRL (MARCIE) -- so mousy she’s the human equivalent of wallpaper -- washes her hands as Cordelia, Harmony, and two Cordettes squeeze her aside to primp at the mirrors.

CORDELIAGod, I am never sitting through one

of those alumni lectures again.Two hours of “My Treck ThoughNepal”. Hello! There’s nobody

caring.

MARCIEDid you see his toupee? It looked

like a cabbage.

Complete ignormation, as Cordy continues.

CORDELIAAnd those slides. “That’s a

mountain. Yes, that’s a mountaintoo. Now let’s look at some

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mountains.”

HARMONYI swear he only had three slidesand he just used them over and

over.

MARCIEDid you guys notice his toupee --

HARMONY(to Marcie)

We’re talking, okay?

CORDELIAOh! And did you guys check out the

extreme toupee? Yeah, that’srealistic. Looked like a cabbage.

Everyone nods, laughs... as the Girl’s eager smile slowly fades. Cordelia and Co. exit. The Girl stares at the mirror, alone.

MR. SNYDER (V.O.)And the winner is... Cordelia

Chase!

CUT TO:

EXT. SCHOOL QUAD - NEXT DAY - NOON

In spooky POV, in a crowd, standing right next to Buffy as we watch Mr. Snyder announce from the steps --

MR. SNYDERIntroducing... our new May Queen!

Oh, you’re here.

Cordelia, having anticipated the result, is already right beside him. She gives a Miss America wave to the crowd.

CORDELIAThank you. For making the right

choice. For showing how much youall love me!

We hear angry PANTING as the SPOOKY POV moves away from Buffy and toward Cordelia...

ANGLE: BUFFY (OUT OF POV)

as Willow and Xander arrive, Willow carrying a printout.

BUFFYDid you guys just hear something?

XANDERJust the hiss of hot air.

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They all look at Cordelia, who is well into her speech.

CORDELIABeing this popular isn’t just myright, it’s my responsibility, and

I want you to know I take itseriously...

They all roll their eyes and turn away, this missing it as Cordelia stumbles a bit, as if something has shoved by...

XANDERGiles said you’d be here. Why are

you being here?

BUFFYLast night was a bust. But I still

think Cordy’s the key here.

Willow hands Buffy the printout.

WILLOWThe missing girls list. They’ve

mostly stayed missing. I pulledtheir classes, activities, medical

records...

BUFFYGood work.

As Buffy thumbs through the list, Willow catches sight of the TWO MEN IN BLACK from the beginning of Act Two, standing in the shadows on the edges of the crowd.

WILLOWHas Cordelia hired a bodyguard or

something?

Xander looks in the Strange Men’s direction... but they’re gone. Buffy, engrossed in the printout, interrupts --

BUFFYWhoa, check it out. the most

recent one. Marcie Ross...disappeared almost six months ago.

XANDERI don’t know her.

WILLOWMe neither.

BUFFYWell, her only activity was band.

She played the flute.

WILLOWSo?

BUFFY

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I heard a flute last night, when Iwas hunting. I couldn’t find out

where it was coming from.

XANDERWhat did it sound like?

BUFFYSad. Real sad. But it was theband room where I lost Ms.Invisible yesterday... This

tracks. I’ve got a free now, I’ll check it out.

XANDEROK, we’ll see you after geometry.

They all exit under the stairs as Cordelia finishes up...

CORDELIASo come to my coronation tonight at

the Bronze, for an evening you’ll never forget!

CUT TO:

INT. BAND ROOM - LATER

Buffy enters. She slowly circles the room.

BUFFYOkay. There’s something about thisroom. We keep coming back. What

is it?

In the sunlight streaming through the windows, Buffy spots a thin ribbon of dust falling from the ceiling in the corner.

She approaches. On the floor is a small flutter of the dust, shoe prints tracked through it. On some book shelves piled with band music, Buffy discovers other dusty shoe prints left when somebody climbed up to --

Buffy looks up -- the ceiling. A ceiling tile is ajar.

BUFFYIt, I presume...

Buffy carefully climbs up the shelf-“ladder” and pushes back the ceiling tile. She pokes her head up for a look -- sees a dim light. Taking a deep breath, she climbs into --

INT. THE “NEST” - CONTINUOUS

Buffy emerges into a largish area with a low overhead -- the Invisible Girl’s nest. It is an eerie moment for Buffy as she realizes what she’s found.

Like a pack-rat’s lair: blankets and pillows, junk food, sheet music, a flute case, and

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a single stuffed animal.

THE INVISIBLE GIRL’S SPOOKY POV

watches Buffy from a far corner as Buffy explores her nest. Poking among the sheetmusic, Buffy finds a book -- last year’s Sunnydale yearbook. Looking around a bit fearfully, she opens the cover and there’s the name: MARCIE ROSS.

BUFFYMarcie Ross. So it is you...

Buffy thumbs through the book, and her look of fear seems to melt as empathy washes over here.

ANGLE: BUFFY

She sits back, engrossed in the yearbook. We track around her to reveal a knife behind her, ready to stab.

After a moment, Buffy closes the yearbook. She looks around again, but not fearfully this time. Sympathetically.

Behind her in the dark, the knife raises higher, ready to attack if Buffy comes closer... But after a beat, Buffy heads instead for the exit, taking the yearbook with her.

Slowly, the knife lowers...

CUT TO:

INT. BAND ROOM - CONTINUOUS

Buffy climbs down the shelf-ladder, carefully juggling the yearbook. She hops to thefirst floor, exits.

CUT TO:

INT. ENGLISH CLASSROOM - LATER

Ms. Miller sits alone at her desk, grading papers.

She doesn’t notice the door open... It closes with a CLICK.

Ms. Miller looks up at the noise.

MS. MILLERCordelia? Could you be on time?

INVISIBLE GIRL’S SPOOKY POV

It slowly circles the unsuspecting Ms. Miller as she shrugs and goes back to grading papers...

EXTREME CLOSE UP: MS. MILLER

writing comments on a paper. She looks up slowly.

MS. MILLER

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Who’s there?

From behind her, with frightening speed, a plastic bag whips down over her head.

WIDER ANGLE: MS. MILLER

As she thrashes about in her chair, the bag tight over her frozen scream.

CUT TO:

INT. HALLWAY OUTSIDE ENGLISH CLASS - CONTINUOUS

Cordelia arrives for her meeting with Ms. Miller, books in hand. She knocks at the door, enters --

INT. ENGLISH CLASSROOM - CONTINUOUS

As Cordelia enters, she gasps -- Ms. Miller is passed out in her chair, her face turning blue inside the plastic bag.

Cordelia rushes to her. She instinctively tears at the cord around Ms. Miller’s neck and pulls off the plastic bag.

CORDELIAMs. Miller, oh-my-god...

Ms. Miller sucks in a painful gasp, then begins to cough. Weakly, she slides out of the chair, collapsing to her knees on the floor.

When Cordelia stoops to help her, the chalkboard is blank.

CORDELIAAre you okay? What happened?

MS. MILLERAttacked.. Didn’t see...

She begins to cough again. Cordelia hears a SCRITCH-SCRITCH behind her... rises slowly...

Now there are letters insanely scrawled there behind her: LISTEN. She turns and reads it. On Cordelia’s whimper...

BLACK OUT.

END OF ACT TWO

Act Three

EXT. SCHOOL - LATE AFTERNOON

Almost deserted.

GILES (V.O.)A nest?

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INT. LIBRARY - CONTINUOUS

The gang listens to an excited Buffy relay her findings.

BUFFYIt looked like Marcie’s been there

for months. It’s where I foundthis.

She places the yearbook on the table --

BUFFYCheck it out.

- and opens it. The others crane to see.

WILLOWOh my god...

ANGLE: THE INSIDE COVER OF THE YEARBOOK

We see written very clearly: “Have a nice summer.” The camera pulls back slowly toreveal the exact same message written and signed by more than a dozen people.

WILLOW“Have a nice summer.” “Have a nice

summer....” This girl had no friends at all.

GILESOnce again I teeter at the

precipice of the generation gap.

BUFFY“Have a nice summer” is what you

write when you have nothing to say.

XANDERIt’s the kiss of death.

BUFFY(to Xander and Willow)

And you guys didn’t know MarcieRoss?

XANDERNever met her, why?

BUFFY‘Cause you both wrote it too.

Xander and Willow look, find their own signatures.

XANDER“Have a nice --” yeeesh.

WILLOWWhere am I? Oh. “Have a great

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summer.” See, I cared.

BUFFYBut you don’t remember her.

Willow goes to her missing kids read It, starts looking at Marcie’s records.

XANDERWell, we probably didn’t see herexcept to sign the book, this is a

big school --

WILLOW(reading)

Xander, we each had four classeswith her last year!

BUFFY(musing)

And you never noticed her. And nowshe’s invisible...

XANDERWhat, she turned invisible because

no one noticed her?

GILESOf course! ...

He goes to a bookshelf near the stairs and pulls out a textbook: “Introduction to Quantum Mechanics.”

GILESI’ve been investigating mystical

causes of invisibility when Ishould have looked to the quantum

mechanical!(off their puzzlement)

Physics. Reality is shaped, evencreated by our perception of it.

BUFFYAnd with the Hellmouth below ussending out mystical energy --

GILESPeople perceived Marcie as

invisible, and she became so.

XANDERBut people perceived the whole

Marcie package as invisible,clothes and all, not just, you

know...(what’s bothering him)

So you’re saying she’s not naked.

BUFFY(realizing)

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It isn’t this great power she cancontrol, it’s something that wasdone to her. That we did to her.

WILLOWNo wonder she’s miffed. But what

does she want?

Buffy, flipping through the yearbook, stops short at a page.

BUFFYJust what we thought.

ANGLE: THE YEARBOOK

Smiling Cordelia’s picture... hideously defaced, almost scratched out. A big read CROWN is scrawled on her head.

BUFFYCordelia.

CORDELIA (O.S.)What?

ANGLE: THE LIBRARY DOORS

Cordelia stands there, eying her surroundings as if she has just entered a dark and scary cave. Then she looks at Buffy.

CORDELIAI knew I’d find you here.

XANDERA-and you would be wanting what?

CORDELIABuffy, I, uh, know we’ve had our

difference, you being so weird andall, and hanging out with these,

ugh, total losers, and...(oops, wrong tack)

Well anyway, despite all that, Iknow you share this feeling we have

for each other, deep down...

WILLOWNausea?

CORDELIA(dropping facade)

Somebody’s after me! Someone justtried to kill Ms. Miller! She was

helping me with my homework! AndMitch and Harmony...! This is all

about me! Me! Me! Me!

XANDERWow. For once she’s right.

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BUFFYSo you’re coming to me for help?

There’s a Why? inside me screamingto get out.

CORDELIAI don’t know... because you’re

always around when stuff happens, Iknow you’re strong and you gotthose weapons... I was kind of

hoping you’re in a gang.

WILLOWThe Ugh-Total-Losers Gang.

CORDELIAPlease... I don’t know where else

to turn.

Buffy and the others exchange a look: should we tell her?

GILESPlease sit down(a beat, gently)

Do you know... I don’t recall everseeing you here before.

CORDELIA(perfectly nicely)

Oh, no. I have a life.

So much for being gentle. Buffy decides.

BUFFYCordelia, the attacker is an

invisible girl.

XANDERWho is really, really angry at you.I can’t imagine that, personally,but it takes all kinds, you know?

CORDELIAI don’t care what it is, just get

rid of it!

BUFFYIt’s not that simple. It’s a

person. This person.(shows Marcie’s photo)

Do you have any idea why she wouldbe so...

CORDELIAGod, is she wearing Laura Ashley?

WILLOW

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So homicidal?

ANGLE: CORDELIA

is emphatic.

CORDELIAI have no idea at all! I’ve neverseen this girl before in my life!

CUT TO:

INT. ENGLISH CLASSROOM - FLASHBACK

Cordelia sits right next to Marcie. Marcie raises her hand eagerly... but Ms. Miller calls on --

MS. MILLERCordelia.

CORDELIAWell, just because the story’sabout him doesn’t mean he’snecessarily the hero, right?

MS. MILLERExactly. What would we call him?

Willow.

WILLOWWell, the protagonist.

XANDERHe can’t be both? ‘Cause some of

the stuff he does is heroic.

All during this, the SOUND SLOWLY DROPS OUT as we PUSH IN on Marcie. She raises her hand again, more desperate, but another kid gets the tag.

As Marcie watches, the kid lowers his hand and mouths his answer m.o.s.

All the sound is gone now, except for the noise Marcie makes -- the rustle of her dress, her pencil dropping -- which is slightly amplified. She’s alone out here.

Slowly, defeatedly, she lowers her hand, and in the SILENCE of absolute isolation, stare at in wonder. It’s starting to disappear.

CUT TO:

INT. THE “NEST”

The POV moves quickly through the dark space, accompanied by ominous MUSIC and a string of muttered threats.

MARCIE’S VOICEI’ll show them.... idiots... showthem all, they’re never gonnaforget... ought to KILL, I could

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KILL... I’m right here, I’m comingfor you... right behind you --

IDIOTS!

As she mutters, we see a hunk of rope yanked out of frame. The POV turns to an old blanket that is also yanked away -- to reveal a black leather satchel shining ominously in the dark.

CUT TO:

INT. LIBRARY - ON CORDELIA’S DEFACED PICTURE

as Buffy slams the yearbook shut. To Cordelia --

BUFFYWell, Marcie remembers you.

GILESAccording to what you’ve told usabout the attack on Ms. Miller, we

now have two messages from Marcie:Look and Listen.

WILLOWmessages we don’t understand.

BUFFYI’m not sure we’re supposed to,yet. Marcie’s not quite ready.

(feeling her way)From what she did to Cordelia’spicture, I’d say she’s wigged on

the whole May Queen thing. Maybe she’s going to do something aboutit, but at a time of her choosing.

WILLOWStop the coronation tonight, maybe.Keep you guys out of the Bronze.

CORDELIANothing is keeping me from the

Bronze tonight.

XANDERCan we just revel in your fabulous

lack of priorities?

CORDELIAIf I’m not crowned tonight, then...then Marcie’s won! And that’s bad!

She’s evil, okay? Way evilerthan me.

BUFFYShe has a point.

CORDELIA

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Buffy’s with me on this.

BUFFYAnyway, continuing the normal May

Queen activities is probably thebest way to draw Marcie out.

Cordelia is our bait.

CORDELIAGreat! What?

GILESWillow and Xander will help me

begin our research anew.

XANDERHe can just say that and then we

have to.

GILESUnless we can find a way to cure

Macie’s invisibility, Buffy willbe --

BUFFYA sitting duck

(to Cordy)Come on.

CORDELIAI need to try on my dress. Am I

really bait?

Buffy and Cordelia exit.

Giles and his helpers troops into Giles’ office. No one sees that in the corner, a CEILING TILE slides back into place...

INT. HALLWAY NEAR LOCKERS - MOMENTS LATER

Empty. Suddenly, Buffy pops around the corner like a Secret Service agent. She checks around with outstretched arms...

BUFFYOK, I think it’s clear.

Cordelia appears, walking like she owns the place.

CORDELIASo how much the creepy is that

this Marcie’s been at this formonths? Spying on us, learning

our most guarded secrets...

The Slayer looks around, thinking about that one.

CORDELIAAnd she turned invisible ‘cause

she’s so unpopular? Bummer for

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her.

BUFFYThat about sums it up.

CORDELIAIt’s awful to feel that lonely.

BUFFYOh, so you’ve read about that

feeling?

Cordy shoots her a look.

CORDELIAYou think I’m never lonely, just

‘cause I’m so cute and popular? Ican be surrounded by people and be

completely alone. It’s not likeany of them really know me. Idon’t even know if they reallylike me half the time. Peoplejust want to be in the popularzone. Sometimes when I talk,

everyone’s so busy agreeing withme, they don’t hear a word I say.

A moment, as Buffy takes this in.

BUFFYIf you feel so alone, why do you

work so hard to be popular?

CORDELIAWell, it beats being alone all by

yourself.

Buffy watches Cordelia start down the stairs. She follows.

CUT TO:

INT. LIBRARY - LATER

Willow and Xander look up as Giles emerges from his office.

XANDERSo what’s the answer, Mr. Wizard?

Potion, ritual, really silly spellrequiring you to shout things?

WILLOWRight, how do we make Marcie

visible?

GILESWe don’t.

WILLOW

Buffy Angel Show

You mean... it’s permanent?

GILESI mean apparently gift as a

researcher is limited tosupernatural rather than quantum

phenomena. All these statefunctions, observables...

Mathematics was never my strength.

WILLOWSsssh! Listen!

Now they hear it: the haunting tones of a FLUTE.

INT. HALLWAY OUTSIDE LIBRARY - CONTINUOUS

The three emerge into the empty, dark hall and listen.

GILESPerhaps we can talk to her, reason

with her.(off their reactions)

Or possibly grab her.

WILLOWThere are three of us...

XANDERLet’s go!

They head off down the hall.

CUT TO:

INT. SUPPLY CLOSET - SAME TIME

Dark. The door opens and Buffy steps in, pulls the chair on the overhead light. Cordelia surveys the icky surroundings.

CORDELIAIf you ever tell anyone I changed

in a mop closet...

BUFFYYour secret dies with me.

Buffy quickly checks the small area: no invisible girls.

BUFFYLooks okay. But hurry.

Buffy exits. Cordelia changes into her dress.

CUT TO:

INT. BASEMENT OUTSIDE BOILER ROOM - SAME TIME

Buffy Angel Show

Giles, Willow, and Xander cautiously make their way down the dark stairs into the basement, following the MUSIC. They fan out, searching. Xander puts his ear to a metal door.

XANDEROver here!

INT. BOILER ROOM - CONTINUOUS

Dark and seemingly deserted but for the ghostly flute music wafting around the BOILER. The three enter.

GILESMarcie. We know what has happened

to you. Please talk to us.

WILLOWWe’re so sorry we ignored you.

But the music plays on. The three exchange looks. Very cautiously, they creep around the boiler --

-- and discover a small boombox, playing an audio cassette.

XANDERCan you say “gulp?”

They race for the door, but they hear Marcie’s maniacal GIGGLING as it SLAMS shut. Giles and Xander try to open it, but it won’t budge.

WILLOWDoes anybody else feel like a major

idiot?

GILESWhat’s that sound?

That’s when they hear the HISS...

CUT TO:

INT. HALLWAY OUTSIDE SUPPLY CLOSET - CONTINUOUS

Buffy paces outside, talking to Cordelia through the door.

BUFFYYou know, what you were sayingbefore... I understand. It doesn’t matter how popular you are --

CORDELIAYou were popular? In what

alternate universe?

BUFFYIn L.A. That point is, I did sort

of feel like something was

Buffy Angel Show

missing --

CORDELIAIs that when you became weird and

got kicked out?

BUFFYOkay, can we have the heartfelt

talk with less talk from you?(no answer)

Cordelia?

From the closet, there’s a SOUND, like a brief scuffle.

BUFFYCordelia!

There’s more COMMOTION within, stuff being overturned.

Buffy tries the door, but it’s jammed. She bangs it several times with her shoulder. Finally she KICKS at the door --

INT. SUPPLY CLOSET - CONTINUOUS

The door flies open and she rushes in: Cordelia’s being yanked up into the ceiling. Buffy grabs at a foot, misses.

She quickly piles up boxes under the hole in the ceiling. She stands on them, then pulls herself up into --

INT. CEILING CRAWLSPACE - CONTINUOUS

Buffy rolls into the space.

There’s a heavy DRAGGING sound in the distance. She follows.

CUT TO:

INT. BOILER ROOM - SAME TIME

Willow and Xander follow Giles to the sound of the HISSING. Giles winces at the strong odor.

GILESGas!

Willow and Xander stagger back. Covering his mouth with his jacket, Giles moves closer. There is a system of gas pipes along the boiler. Giles frantically searches for something.

GILESShe’s snuffed out the pilot light!The gas is up full, but I can’t

find the shutoff!

XANDERIs this it?

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Xander picks up a wheel-like metal knob from the floor. Hands it to Giles. The spindle has been broken off.

WILLOWOK, that’s bad, How about the

door?

Xander grabs a large pipe and is about to ram the door --

GILESNo! One spark and you’ll take the

whole building with us!

Very gently, Xander lays the pipe back down.

CUT TO:

INT. CEILING CRAWLSPACE - SAME TIME

Buffy crawls toward the light ahead.

INT. THE NEST - CONTINUOUS

Buffy emerges into the larger space on the opposite side from where she came in through the Band Room ceiling. She sees the rope, the leather satchel, Cordelia’s unconscious body dressed for May Queen.

Instinctively, Buffy tries to crawl toward Cordelia, but just as she’s within reach --

THE INVISIBLE GIRL’S SPOOKY POV

rushes right at her --

Buffy is flung sideways out of the nest, into the ceiling titles. The tiles cave easily under her weight and Buffy CRASHES into --

INT. A CLASSROOM - CONTINUOUS

Buffy falls through the ceiling and lands painfully. Stunned from the impact, she is on the ground, sees:

ANGLE: NEXT TO BUFFY

The satchel drops to the ground with a thud. We HEAR Marcie drop next to it, then the bag opens.

Buffy tries to prop herself up, still dazed, when she sees:

ANGLE: A HUGE, DRIPPING HYPODERMIC NEEDLE

Floating right in front of her

She barely has time to gasp before it plunges into her neck.

Buffy’s eyes roll back in her head and she drops unconscious to the floor.

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BLACK OUT.

END OF ACT THREE

Act Four

INT. A DARK SPACE - ON BUFFY

Out cold. She moans and stirs, her head cocked uncomfortably to one side. Opens her eyes and after a moment makes out beside her:

ANGLE: BUFFY’S POV

Cordelia, sitting tied to a chair with Marcie’s thick nylon rope. Actually it’s a throne -- they are onstage at the bronze.

Buffy tries to get up and realizes that she too is tied -- to the other throne. She struggles a bit but the bonds are tight, strong. Giving up, she looks in front of her for the first time.

ANGLE: CORDELIA

is already awake, and staring ahead of her as well. She glances over at Buffy. Her May Queen crown has been put on her head.

CORDELIABuffy? You’re awake?

BUFFYYeah.

CORDELIAI can’t move.

BUFFYNeither can I.

CORDELIAI can’t feel my face.

BUFFYWhat do you mean?

CORDELIAMy face! It feels numb. What is

she doing?

BUFFYI don’t know.

CORDELIA(looking ahead again)

What does that mean?

ANGLE: THE STAGE

For the first time, we see the full tableau: two thrones, facing away from us, and

Buffy Angel Show

the wall behind them. On it, in huge red letters, is spray painted the word: LEARN.

BUFFYI don’t know.

CUT TO:

INT. BOILER ROOM - SAME TIME

Willow, crouched coughing on the floor, watches as Xander futilely rams the metal door with his shoulder.

At the boiler, Giles cuts his hands as he strains to close the broken shutoff valve. The HISSING subsides slightly. He staggers to Willow, choking. Xander follows suit.

GILESThat should give us a few minutes,

but if we cannot escape this room...

He doesn’t have to finish the sentence. They get it.

WILLOWWhy is Marcie doing this?

GILESThe isolation, the exile she’s

endured... she has gone mad.

XANDERYa think?

CUT TO:

INT. THE BRONZE STAGE - SAME TIME

Cordelia and Buffy look around as something moves in the wings. It’s a cart with a towel thrown over the top, and it heads for them.

MARCIE’S VOICEI’m disappointed. I really hopedyou would have figured it out by

now.

BUFFYWhy don’t you explain it? What are

we supposed to learn?

CORDELIAYeah, what do you want to teach us?

MARCIE’S VOICENo, you don’t get it. You’re notthe student. You’re the lesson.

Neither of the girls is real excited to hear that. The cart stops between them, both girls looking at it. Cordelia’s voice has a new level of hesitance in it as she says:

Buffy Angel Show

CORDELIAWhat have you done to my face?

MARCIE’S VOICEYour face. That’s what it’s allabout, isn’t it? Your beautiful

face. That’s what makes you shinejust a little bit brighter than the rest of us. We all want what you

have. To be noticed. To beremembered. To be seen.

CORDELIA(near panic)

What are you doing?

MARCIE’S VOICEI’m fulfilling your fondest wish.

She whips the towel off the cart to reveal a line of surgical instruments, each more byzantine and horrific than the last.

MARCIE’S VOICEI’m gonna give you a face no one

will ever forget.

CUT TO:

INT. BOILER ROOM - SAME TIME

Giles, Willow and Xander are now on the floor, wheezing.

XANDERI’m thinking we ram the door and

take our chances.

WILLOWWhat’re a few sparks among friends?

GILESSparks... Sparks are caused by

metal on metal...

Giles quickly takes off his jacket and wraps it around the large pipe Xander was using.

Coughing fiercely, the three stagger to their feet, holding the pipe like a battering ram against the door lock.

GILESOne, two, three!

BAM! The door holds fast.

GILESAgain!(BAM!)Again!

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Nothing. The three sag against the wall. Weak. Defeated.

CUT TO:

INTO. THE BRONZE STAGE - SAME TIME

BUFFYMarcie... you can’t do this.

MARCIE’S VOICEWhat are you gonna do? Slay me?

BUFFYMarcie, you know it’s wrong...

Marcie GIGGLES. Suddenly, Buffy’s head WHIPS around as Marcie punches her.

MARCIE’S VOICEYou should have stayed out of myway. You know, I actually thoughtyou might understand my vision.But you’re just like them. Maybe

I’ll practice on you. A littlewarm up. This is my first

operation, after all.

CORDELIAPlease don’t do this...

ANGLE: A SCALPEL

is lifted into the air. For a moment the two girls just stare at it, wondering which way it will head.

It moves toward Cordelia.

CORDELIANoo...

MARCIE’S VOICEYou should be grateful. People who

pass you in the street willremember you for the rest of their

‘lives. Children will dream boutyou. And every one of your friends

who comes to the coronation tonightwill take the sight of the May

Queen to their graves.

As she speaks, Buffy looks down at:

ANGLE: A SCALPEL

on the edge of the tray. It’s almost near enough to reach, and Buffy strains her hand -- tied to the arm of the chair -- towards it.

Cordelia sees what Buffy is doing, looks back ahead of her. The scalpel is inches

Buffy Angel Show

from her face.

CORDELIAWait!

MARCIE’S VOICEWe really have to get started.That local anesthetic will be

wearing off soon. And I don’t want you to faint. It’s less fun if

you’re not awake.

INT. BOILER ROOM - SAME TIME

Willow grabs Xander as he slumps to the floor.

XANDERYou’re blacking out on me, guys...

He faints. Willow and Giles sink to the ground, not far behind him... Breathing their last...

CUT TO:

INT. THE BRONZE STAGE - SAME TIME

Buffy is still surreptitiously straining her fingers toward the scalpel.

Cordelia’s eyes are locked on the scalpel inches from her face.

MARCIE’S VOICELet’s see... I think we should

start with your smile. I think itshould be wider.

CORDELIAMarcie... listen... you think I

don’t understand what you’re going through, but I do.

MARCIE’S VOICEYou will...

CORDELIAI do... and I could help you. I could. Help you meet people.

Everyone could want to know younow... I mean you’re really

special.

Buffy is almost there --

ANGLE: MARCIE’S POV

looking at Cordelia, it hears a small CLATTER and the camera WHIPS over to see what Buffy is up to. She is sitting, hand nowhere near the tray, looking defeated.

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Cordelia tries to draw Marcie’s attention back to her, saying:

CORDELIAI do know how you feel, how

lonely...

The POV goes back to Cordy.

ANGLE: BUFFY’S HAND

sitting on the arm of the throne. She moves it slightly to reveal the scalpel under it. She palms it and begins sawing away at her bonds.

MARCIE’S VOICEI’ll bet you know how I feel.

(mockingly)I’ll be you can be with all your

friends and feel so alone becausethey don’t really know you.

(angry)You’re a typical self involved

spoiled little brat, and you thinkyou can charm your way out of

this -- Isn’t that what you think?!

and SLICE! The scalpel swings across Cordelia’s cheek, leaving a good three inch cut. Cordelia screams! And as she whimpers, her eyes welling up:

MARCIE’S VOICEI see right through you.

Has her arm and leg free -- She raises her leg and KICKS the cart, sends it SLAMMING into Marcie -- which we know from the cart stopping suddenly, and the thud of Marcie’s body.

Buffy pulls herself completely free, moves to Cordelia’s chair.

CORDELIAOh, God, get me out of here...

BUFFYJust hold still -

And WHAM! Buffy is sent flying to the ground.

CUT TO:

INT. BOILER ROOM - SAME TIME

Our trio is nearly unconscious, only Giles still making a feeble effort at the door -- when it opens!

Angel steps in.

ANGELCome on!

Giles stumbles out as Angel picks up Willow.

Buffy Angel Show

CUT TO:

INT. BASEMENT - CONTINUOUS

Giles shakes Willow awake as Angel brings Xander out. He is in a daze, but conscious.

XANDERWhat happened?

ANGEL(to Giles)

You tell me.

WILLOWI’m up, mom...

XANDER(to Angel)

Hi. What do you want?

ANGEL(to Giles)

I brought you the codex. I came inthrough the basement, smelled the

gas.

GILESWe’ve still got to turn it off, or

it could blow the building.

ANGELI’ll do it.

(heading in)It’s not like I need the oxygen...

CUT TO:

INT. THE BRONZE STAGE - CONTINUOUS

Buffy gets to her knees when WHAM! an invisible kick to the face sends her on her back. She rises, pissed.

BUFFYYou know, I really felt bad for

you. You’ve suffered. But there’sone thing I didn’t factor into allthis. You’re a thundering loony.

She turns, swinging at nothing. Looks around her frantically.

MARCIE’S VOICEHey, moron. I’m invisible.

WHAM! a blow to the face. Buffy swings and misses again.

She stops. She shuts her eyes. Stands very still.

Buffy Angel Show

CLOSE UP: BUFFY

as she listens, the noises around her get amplified. Cordy’s whimper. Marcie’s breathing. A floorboard.

Buffy whips around PUNCHES with all her might. WE hear a painful connection as Marcie flies into:

ANGLE: THE CURTAIN

Which we see from the back as her body flies into it, pulling it down on top of her.

Buffy approaches as Marcie rises under the curtain.

BUFFYI see you...

WHAM! She knocks her out. Stands over her a moment when:

Strange Men in Black (AGENTS DOYLE and MANETTI and two others) arrive on opposite sides of the stage.

AGENT DOYLEFBI! Nobody move!

AGENT MANETTIWe’ll take it from here, ma’am.

BUFFYTake what from where?

AGENT DOYLE(showing ID)

I’m agent Doyle, this is agentManetti. We’re here for the girl.

BUFFYWell, where were you ten minutes

ago when she was playing surgeon?

AGENT DOYLEI’m sorry, we came as fast as wecould. We’ll take care of it from

here on.

Two agents are taking her -- still wrapped in the curtain -- outside.

BUFFYYou can cure her?

AGENT DOYLEWe can... rehabilitate her.

AGENT MANETTIIn time she’ll learn to be a useful

member of society again.

AGENT DOYLE

Buffy Angel Show

Very useful.

BUFFYThis isn’t the first time this has

happened, is it? This has happenedat other schools.

AGENT MANETTIWe’re not at liberty to discuss

that.

AGENT DOYLEIt would be best for you to forget

this whole incident.

BUFFYDo you guys know that you’re very

creepy?

AGENT DOYLEThank you for your help.

They go. At the door, Manetti turns back and says:

AGENT MANETTIHave a nice day.

Buffy watches as they go, staring pensively, until she hears:

CORDELIA(meekly)

Can I get untied now?

CUT TO:

INT. HALLWAY OUTSIDE LIBRARY - THE NEXT DAY

Our foursome is walking along.

BUFFYI just can’t believe how twisted

Marcie got. How did you guys getout of the boiler room?

Giles shoots the other two a look.

GILESJanitor. Found us and shut off the

valve.

WILLOWWe were lucky.

BUFFYI’ll say.

They stop as they are suddenly approached by Cordelia. She has a bandage over

Buffy Angel Show

her cheek -- nothing drastic.

BUFFYHey.

CORDELIAHi. Look, I didn’t get a chance tosay anything yesterday, with thecoronation and everything, but...I guess I wanted to thank you. All

of you.

There is a moment of silence.

XANDERIt’s funny ‘cause you look like

Cordelia.

CORDELIAYou really helped me out, and you

didn’t have to. So thanks.

BUFFYThat’s okay.

WILLOWListen, we’re just going to grabsome lunch, if you wanted --

Mitch and a couple of Cordettes are suddenly upon them, interrupting with:

MITCHWhoah, you’re not hanging with

these losers, you?

CORDELIAAre you kidding? I was just being

charitable, trying to help themwith their fashion problems.

She goes off with them, Mitch on her arm.

CORDELIAYou really think I felt like

joining that social leper colony?Please.

ANGLE: OUR FOURSOME

Staring at her with varying degrees of naked hatred.

XANDERBoy. Where’s an invisible girlwhen you really need one?

CUT TO:

Buffy Angel Show

INT. FBI COMPOUND - CORRIDOR - DAYS LATER

Agents Doyle and Manetti, intense and low-key, walk seemingly alone down the corridor. They stop at a door.

AGENT DOYLEWe think you’ll be happy here.

AGENT MANETTIYou should fit right in.

The door opens by itself and we hear FOOTSTEPS going in.

INT. FBI CLASSROOM - CONTINUOUS

A TEACHER (who’s visible) turns from his lecture at the chalkboard to the closing door.

TEACHERWelcome, Marcie. Please sit down.

OK, class, please turn to pagefifty-four in your texts...

REVERSE ANGLE: THE EMPTY CLASSROOM

On ten “empty” desks there are ten textbooks. The books open seemingly by themselves to page 54.

BLACK OUT.

END OF ACT FOUR

THE END

Buffy Angel Show